Prime Minister Narendra Modi (front) performs yoga along with thousands of others at a mass yoga session to mark the International Day of Yoga 2015 at Rajpath in New Delhi, June 21. (Manvender Vashist | PTI)

The Indian Consulate in San Francisco organized the first International Yoga Day, June 21, at the Marina Green Park in San Francisco. This was one of the many events organized worldwide to mark the significance of yoga and to make the world more aware of the benefits of practicing yoga. From San Francisco to Washington D.C. to London to India, the world got together and celebrated the International Day of Yoga. A Siliconeer Contributor report.

The Indian Consulate in San Francisco organized the first International Yoga Day, June 21, at the Marina Green Park in San Francisco. This was one of the many events organized worldwide to mark the significance of yoga and to make the world more aware of the benefits of practicing yoga. From San Francisco, to Washington D.C., to London, to India, the world got together and celebrated the International Day of Yoga.

Over two thousand people from San Francisco and surrounding areas of the California state registered for the event and were present in huge numbers at the venue, June 21, despite the cold and windy start to the day.

Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was the chief guest at the event, organized in association with Art of Living Foundation and other organizations including Isha Foundation, Bramha Kumaris, Yoga Ascent of North America (YANA), Ashtanga, Overseas Volunteers for better India (OVBI), Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh (HSS), Yoga Bharathi, Iyengar Yoga, to name a few.

The event started with a prayer, followed by several Yoga sessions by the participating yoga schools and associations. A video message by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aired, where he said that the whole world is committed, determined and looking forward to June 21, the International Yoga Day.

India feels proud of the fact that the United Nations has taken forward this mission of Yoga to the world and it was co-sponsored by 177 countries and India’s invaluable heritage has become the world’s invaluable heritage today.  Stating that each country in the present day world is feeling isolated today, he added that this situation is not in the collective interest. Highlighting the positive aspects of yoga, he stated that it would lead to a stress free human mind, through which it would ultimately lead to the stress free society. He heartily felicitated the world community for supporting the International Yoga Day.

Arun Jaitley described yoga as an art and science that stabilizes the human mind, controls the human emotions and brings the human body back in tandem in a state of fitness. Stating that it is now a codified science and the world today adopts it as an established practice, he added that “I must say that we are delighted that coming from a civilization where it started that it carries the message of peace, humanity, well being of the human being and the human mind world across.”

The participants performed yoga with discipline. A large number of locals also participated. Several other dignitaries including the Consul General of India, San Francisco, Ambassador Venkatesan Ashok; CEOs of several tech companies; a council member from the Bay Area also participated in the event.